Form feed mechanism for business machine



May 7, 1957 R. w. YERKS ETAL 2,791,311

FORM FEED MECHANISM FOR BUSINESS MACHINE Filed Nov. 25, 1955 2 Shets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TORS. RICHARD W YER/(S V/NC [N T A. MAL/17755721 May 7, 1957 w. Y RKs ETAL 2,791,311

FORM FEED MECHANISM FOR BUSINESS MACHINE Filed Nov. 25, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 V/NC EN TA. MALATES 774 A T TORNEV United States Patent FORM FEED MECHANISM FOR BUSINESS MACHKNE Richard W. Yerks, Manchester, and Vincent A. Malatcsta,

East Hartford, Conn., assignors to Underwood Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application November 25, 1955, Serial No. 548,965

8 Claims. (Cl. 197-114) This invention relates to mechanism for feeding forms or Work sheets past the printing position in a business machine such as an accounting machine.

Accounting machines and certain other business machines are customarily provided with a cylindrical platen adapted to be rotated to feed forms upward in line-space increments past a printing point and also adapted to be turned in reverse direction to aid in positioning the forms for receiving the first item or line of printing. When items are listed in a plurality of columns, the normal procedure is to enter the items in the first column from the top of the form to the bottom and then rotate the platen backward and enter in the next column from top to bottom. It is apparent that the listing of items in different columns would be facilitated if provision were made for conveniently feeding the form backward in linespace increments so that after printing down in one column, the machine would print up in the next column, thus eliminating the need for a long form movement between the end of one column and the start of the next.

It is therefore the principal object of the present invention to provide mechanism whereby forms may be automatioally fed in both the normal line-space direction and reverse direction past the printing point of a business machine.

A more specific object of this invention is to provide a single power operated mechanism which may be selectively operated in different ways or to different extents to move the platen of a business machine such as an accounting machine in line-space increments in either forward or reverse direction.

These and other objects, features and advantages will become apparent as the description of a preferred embodiment of the invention proceeds.

Referring now to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view, partially in section, showing mechanism of the present invention embodied in an accounting machine,

Figure 2 is a side elevational view showing a latch means forming an element of the combination,

Figure 3 is a detail view showing the operation of the latch means,

Figure 4 is a side elevational view showing the mechanism at a time near the beginning of a forward line-space operation,

Figure 5 is a side elevational view showing some of the mechanism of Figure 4 at a time near the end of a forward line-space operation,

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 4 and showing the parts at a time halfway through a reverse line-spacing operation, and

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 5 and showing the parts at a time near the end of a reverse line-spacing operation.

The invention has been embodied in the well-known Sundstrand accounting machine such as shown in numerous patents, of which Patent No. 1,965,611 to Oscar J. Sundstrand is exemplary. The machine is provided 2,791,311 Patented May 7, 1957 Kit? with a reciprocating carriage, one of the end plates of which is indicated at 10. A cylindrical platen 11 is secured to an axial shaft 12 by means of which it is rotatably mounted in the carriage end plates. By rotating the platen, forms or work sheets may be fed past the printing line in the usual manner.

For rotating the platen, in a manner presently to be explained, means in the form of a toothed wheel 13 is secured to the shaft 12 near the outside of one of the carriage end plates. The wheel 13 is of composite construction and comprises two circular disks 14 and 15, see Figure 4, secured together by pins 16, said disks seing provided respectively with circumferential rows of oppositely directed teeth 17 and 18.

Pivotally mounted on the outside of each carriage end plate is an arm 19, only one of which is shown. A shaft 20 extends between the lower ends of the arms 19 and is engaged intermediate its ends in'ia slot 21 provided in the upper edge of a slide 22 so that as the carriage moves from column to column and return the shaft slides within the slot. At the end of the carriage where the toothed wheel 13 is located, a pawl member 23 is pivotally connected to the arm 19. A spring 24 extending between the arm 19 and pawl member 23 urges said pawl member in a counterclockwise direction about its pivotal connection. Secured to the carriage end plate is a plate 25, see Figure 4, having an outwardly extending tab 26 and, with the parts in normal position, the spring 24 holds a roller 27 provided on the pawl member 23 against said tab, as shown in Figure 1.

The slide 22 is provided with a pair of elongated slots 28 and 29 through which extend stationary shafts 30 and 31 which serve to guide said slide and limit its reciprocating movement. A spring 32 urges a shoulder 33 of the slide into engagement with a member 34 which is secured to a rockably mounted stub shaft 35 and to an operating lever 36 which is also secured to said stub shaft. The lever 36 is similar in all respects to the lever 19 of the above referred to Sundstrand patent and, as explained in said patent, the lever and the stub shaft are rocked counterclockwise and then restored to the position shown in Figure 1 during each operating cycle of the machine.

Rockably mounted upon a stub shaft 37 secured to a frame plate 38 is a pair of stop members 39 and 40 having upper ends 41 and 42 respectively extending through guide slots in a plate 43 and into the path of movement of a tail portion 44 of the slide 22. Springs 45 and 46 normally hold the stop members 39 and 40 respectively in the positions shown in Figure 1. One or both of the stop members may be swung about the stub shaft 37 against the action of their respective springs to remove their upper ends from the path of movement of the slide 22. Any suitable means may be employed for operating the stop members, for example, a solenoid 47 may be connected by a wire 48 to the member 39 and a solenoid 49 may be connected by a wire 50 to the member 40 and the solenoids energized in accordance with the operation of keys on the machine keyboard or in accordance with information supplied by some outside agency such as a punched paper tape or the like.

When the solenoid 47 is energized, the upper end 41 of the stop member 39 is withdrawn from the path of movement of the slide 22 and as the machine is given a. cycle of operation to print an amount on a work sheet carried by the platen, the slide follows the member 34 under the urge of the spring 32 until the tail portion 44 of said slide comes into contact with the upper end 42 of the stop member 40.

As shown in Figure 4, during the movement of the slide 22 to its position of engagement with the stop member 40, the arm 19 is swung clockwise and the roller 27 of pawl member 23 moves away from the tab 26. As the roller 27 leaves the tab 26 the spring 24 swings the pawl member 23 in a counterclockwise direction to engage a pawl tooth 51, of said pawl member with the. teeth 17 of the toothed wheel 13. During the second half of the cycle, the member 34strikes the shoulder 33 of slide 22 to positively restore said slide to its Figure 1 position. As the slide 22 moves toward the right, the pawl member 23 turns the toothed wheel. 13, as shown in FigureS, far enough to rotate the platen one line-space distance in the forward or normal line-spacing direction and at the very end of the cycle the roller 27 engages tab 26 whereby the pawl tooth. 51v iscammed out of engagement with the toothed wheel.

When the solenoid, 49 is energized, the stop member 40 is swung about thestub shaft 37 to remove its upper end 42 from the path of movement of slide 22. As the member 40 swings, an edge of said member engages an arm 52 provided, on, the stop member 39 so that the solenoid 49 is effective to remove both stop members from the path of slide 22 and said slide is therefore free to follow the member 34 for the full extent permitted by the slots 28 and 29.

So that it will not be necessary to maintain the solenoids energized during the time required for the slide 22 to make its full leftward movement, a latch member 53 is provided for holding the stop members in their inactive positions. The latch member is pivoted upon a screw 54 secured in the frame plate 43 and is urged in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 2 by a spring 55.

Noses 56 and 57 are provided on the latch member 53 for latching engagement with notches provided in the lower edges of the upper ends of the stop members. In Figure 3, the stop member 39 is shown in inactive or withdrawn position and it will be seen that the latch member 53 has been swung to engage the nose 56 within the slot in the lower edge of end 41 of said stop member to prevent the return of the stop member to slide blocking position. With only the stop member 39 withdrawn, the

nose 57 of the latch member engages the side of the upper end 42 of stop member 40 and when that stop member is also withdrawn, the latch member swings an additional distance to engage the nose 57 with the slot of stop member 40 and prevent the return of both stop members to slide blocking position.

The latch member 53 is provided with a roller 58 which extends into the path of movement of an arm 59 swingable about a pivot 60. The arm 59, only partially shown in Figures 1', 2, 4 and 6, is one of a pair which are employed for restoring the type bars to normal position after a printing operation and corresponds to arm of the above referred to Sundstrand patent. As explained in said patent, the arm 59 is swung counterclockwise from the full-line position of Figure 2 to the dottedline position and back during a machine cycle. arm 59 moves substantially in unison with the member 34 but, since ithas some distance to move before contacting roller 58; it is apparent in Figure 4 that the end 44 of slide 22 will pass beyond the end of the withdrawn stop members 39 and 40. before arm 59 comes into engagement with the roller 58. When the arm 59 engages the roller 58, the latch member 53 is rocked in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figure 2 to free the stop members 39 and and the upper ends of said stop members then press against the side of the tail portion 44 of slide 22 until said slide is restored.

For turning the wheel 13 and platen 11 in reverse line-space direction in a manner presently to be explained, a pawl 61 is provided. The pawl 61 has an elongated slot 62, Figures 4, 6 and 7, by means of which it is rotatably and slidably mounted upon a screw 63 secured to the carriage end plate 10. Also pivotaily mounted upon the screw 63 is an operating lever 64 provided with a pin 65 extending through an elongated slot 66 in the pawl '61. A spring 67, extending between the pin 65 The no hi and a pin 68 provided on the pawl 61, urges the pawl to a position wherein the screw 63 is located in the upper portion of the slot 62. A spring 69, secured at one end to the pin 65 and anchored at its other end on the carriage frame, urges the operating lever 64 into engagement with an eccentrically adjustable head of a screw 70. The pawl 61 is provided with a pawl tooth 71 adapted to engage the teeth 18 of the toothed wheel 13 and since said pawl is connected by the pin-and-slot connection 65-66 to the lever 64, the spring 69 normally serves to hold the tooth 71 out of engagement with the wheel 13.

Cooperating means are provided on the operating lever 64 and pawl member 23, said means taking the form of a notch 72 in the end of the lever 64. and a tooth 73 on pawl member 23.

When both stop members 39 and 49 are withdrawn to permit full reciprocation of the slide 22, said slide moves the pawl member 23 toward the left far enough to engage the tooth 73 of said pawl member within the notch 72 of the operating lever 64, as shown in Figure 6. Upon restoration of the slide 22, the pawl member 23 swings the operating lever 64 and consequently the pawl 61 in a counterclockwise direction about the screw 63 to engage the pawl tooth 71 with one of the teeth 18 of wheel 13 as shown in Figure 7 and rotate said wheel far enough to turn the platen a line-space distance in its reverse direction. The length of the lever 64 is such that with the tooth 73 located in the notch 72, the tooth 51 cannot contact the teeth 17 of the wheel 13. As the slide 22.approaches the end of its return movement, the roller 27 of the pawl member 23 contacts the tab 26 and said pawl member is thereby swung slightly clockwise to disengage the tooth 73 from the notch 72. The spring 69 thereupon restores the operating lever 64 and pawl 61 to their normal positions as aforesaid. Should one of the teeth 18 interfere with the return of pawl 61, the spring 67 will yield and permit said pawl to move up suthciently to clear the interfering tooth.

For detenting the platen in its various line-space positions, a lever 74 is pivoted upon the screw and provided with a roller 75 which is resiliently held in engagement with the teeth of the wheel 13 by means of a spring 76 extending between said lever and the carriage end plate 10.

From the foregoing detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention it will be apparent that the platen may be selectively line-spaced by power in either direction depending upon the extent of movement of the slide 22. Since the slide 22 engages the shaft 23 in :all tabulated positions of the carriage, the platen may be line-spaced in one direction when the machine is opcrating in one column of a work sheet and in the opposite direction when operating in the next column, thus eliminating the need for manually turning back the platen each time a new column of figures is to be printed. Obviously many of the details of construction may be considerably varied without adversely affecting the overall operation.

Having thus described a preferred embodiment of the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In a machine of the class described, a platen rotatable in line-space increments in forward and reverse directions to move a work sheet in forward and reverse directions past a printing line, toothed wheel means operatively connected to said platen for rotating said platen, a movably mounted member, selectively operable means for imparting first and second extents of movement to said member, a tooth on said member, means for engaging said tooth with said toothed wheel means during the first extent of movement of said member whereby said member steps said toothed wheel means in one direction, a pawl for stepping said toothed wheel means in the opposite; direction, operating means for said pawl, and means on said member engageable with said opera ing means during the second extent of movement of said member whereby said operating means operates said pawl and steps said toothed wheel means in its opposite direction.

2. In :a machine of the class described, a platen rotatable in line-space increments in forward and reverse directions to move [a work sheet in forward and reverse directions past a printing line, toothed wheel means operatively connected to said platen for rotating said platen, a pawl member mounted for generally linear reciprocation, selectively operable means for imparting first and second extents of movement to said pawl member, said pawl member during its first extent of movement serving to turn said toothed wheel means in one direction, a pawl swingable about an axis to turn said toothed wheel means in the opposite direction, and means efiective during the second extent of movement of said pawl member for operatively connecting said pawl member to said pawl whereby said pawl turns said toothed Wheel means.

3. In a machine of the class described, a platen rotatable in line-space increments in forward and reverse directions to move a work sheet in forward and reverse directions past a printing line, toothed Wheel means operatively connected to said platen for rotating said platen, a pawl member mounted for generally \linear reciprocation motion, selectively operable means for imparting first and second extents of movement to said pawl member, said pawl member during its first extent of movement serving to turn said toothed wheel means in one direction, a pawl swingable about an axis to turn said toothed wheel means in the opposite direction, an operating iever for said pawl, said operating lever being mounted to swing about the same axis as said pawl, and cooperating means on said operating lever and said pawl member, said cooperating means becoming engaged when said pawl member is moved to its second extent whereby said pawl member swings said operating lever and said pawl to thereby cause said pawl to turn said toothed wheel means.

4. In a machine of the class described, a platen rotatable in line-space increments in forward and reverse diroot-ions to move a work sheet in forward and reverse directions past a printing line, toothed wheel means operatively connected to said platen for rotating said platen, a movably mounted pawl member, power means for imparting first and second extents of movement to said pawl member, selectively operable means for controlling said power means, said pawl member during its first extent of movement serving to turn said toothed wheel means in one direction, a pawl swingable about an axis to turn said toothed wheel means in the opposite direction, operating means for said pawl, and cooperating means on said operating means and said pawl member, said coopcrating means becoming engaged when said pawl member is moved to its second extent whereby said pawl member causes said operating means to operate said pawl and turn said toothed wheel means.

5. In a machine of the class described, a platen rotatable in line-spacing increments in forward and reverse directions to move a work sheet in forward and reverse directions past a printing line, toothed wheel means operatively connected to said platen for rotating said platen, a first pawl for rotating said toothed wheel means in one direction, a second pawl for rotating said toothed wheel means in the opposite direction, a member movable from a normal position to a first operated position and to a second operated position, means for moving said member to its operated positions and means for restoring said member to its normal position, selectively operable means for determining to which one of its operated positions said member will be moved, means operatively connecting said member to said first pawl whereby said first pawl will rotate said toothed wheel means in its said one direction during restoration of said member from its first operated position, and means operable by said member during restoration of said member from its second operated position for operating said second pawl whereby said toothed wheel means will be rotated in its opposite direction, said last mentioned means including said first pawl.

6. In a machine of the class described, a platen rotatable in line-spacing increments in forward and reverse directions to move a work sheet in forward and reverse directions past a printing line, toothed wheel means operatively connected to said platen for rotating said platen, a first pawl for rotating said toothed wheel means in one direction, a second pawl for rotating said toothed wheel means in the opposite direction, a reciprocatable member, means for reciprocating said member for a partial extent and for a full extent, selectively operable means for determining whether said member will be reciprocated for a partial extent or for a full extent, means operatively connecting said member to said first pawl whereby said first pawl will rotate said toothed wheel means in its said one direction during reciprocation of said member for its partial extent, and means operable by said first pawl during reciprocation of said member for its full extent for operating said second pawl whereby said toothed wheel means will be rotated in its opposite direction.

7. In a machine of the class described, a platen rotatable in line-spacing increments in forward and reverse directions to move a work sheet in forward and reverse directions past a printing line, toothed wheel means operatively connected to said platen for rotating said platen, a first member for rotating said toothed wheel means in one direction, a second member for rotating said toothed wheel means in the opposite direction, a cyclically operable element, a slide adapted to follow said cyclically operable element and to be positively restored by said element, means normally preventing movement of said slide, said means being selectively operable to permit either limited or full movement of said slide, means operatively connecting said slide to said first member whereby said first member will rotate said toothed Wheel means in its said one direction during restoration of said slide from its limited movement, and means operable by said slide during its restoration from its full movement to operate said second member whereby said toothed wheel means will be rotated in its opposite direction, said last mentioned means including said first member.

8. In a machine of the class described, a platen rotatable in line-spacing increments in forward and reverse directions to move a work sheet in forward and reverse directions past a printing line, toothed wheel means operatively connected to said platen for rotating said platen, a first pawl for rotating said toothed wheel means in one direction, a second pawl for rotating said toothed wheel means in the opposite direction, a cyclically operable member, a slide urged to follow said cyclically operable member and positively restored by said member, means normally preventing movement of said slide, said means being selectively operable to permit either limited or full movement of said slide, means operatively connecting said slide to said first pawl whereby said first pawl will rotate said toothed wheel means in its said one direction during restoration of said slide from its limited movement, and means operable by said first pawl during restoration of said slide from its full movement to operate said second pawl whereby said toothed wheel means will be rotated in its opposite direction.

No references cited. 

